T&C chatted with the "OMYGOD!" songstress—fresh off the debut of her new single—about who inspires her, what makes her tick, and where she's headed next.

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T&C: You made your third album, Girl Talk, happen by creating your own label and crowd-funding—no easy feat. What's the key to striking out on your own successfully?

KN: I think it comes down to believing in yourself and your art and not backing down. Even when you feel like you're being defeated, you can push through. I have a really strong work ethic, and I believe in making things happen for myself. If you can't get in the front door then climb through the window.

T&C: How do you feel your style has evolved since you released My Best Friend Is You?

KN: I purposely experimented with different vocal styles. I was listening to a lot of Hole, Nirvana, and T.Rex, and also to old singers who do a lot of harmonies. I think my voice has matured—I can do more with it now, and I've started using it as an instrument.

T&C: Who do you dream of collaborating with?

KN: I love Patti Smith. I respect her so much. She's had an amazing career and she does whatever she wants. It would be the ultimate dream to work with her. I would also love to work with Stevie Wonder, and Prince. Prince is such a unique artist. He doesn't have limitations. I can't imagine him ever thinking something is impossible. And Stevie is so fun musically; he's an absolute legend. I can imagine him being so fun to work with. In my mind, those three are all geniuses.

T&C: You're not afraid to dialogue directly with your fans—and your critics—about your passion projects, refreshing in a climate where so much of a musician's image is filtered through a PR team. Has your candor ever gotten you into trouble?

KN: I'm sure it has. As I've gotten older, I guess I've become more aware of that. When I first started, I had global fame and success, and no one in my family had ever experienced anything like that. I wasn't aware of the consequences that come from being opinionated. But even though I'm aware now, I still believe in speaking my mind and not holding back. It sets a better example to be honest and real. I think there's too much fear and too much phony in this industry. It has a negative effect on young people—these perfect pop stars who don't have any opinion, because they don't want to offend anyone so they can sell as many records as possible. I mean, how is that more important than inspiring someone, or changing something for the better, or sticking up for what you believe in? It's how I've been brought up— I guess I'm lucky to have a family that cares about the right things.

T&C: How do you see your sound evolving? How much of your evolution as an artist is a conscious effort, and how much of it happens spontaneously?

KN: I tend to wait until I'm writing the next record to figure that out, because once you get to the end of a tour, it changes. There are loads of things I would like to explore. I want to make a soul record one day...I love R&B, and electronic music. But I'm enjoying what I'm doing right now, too. I'm a fan of so many different types of music, so who knows what could happen? It's exciting!

Click here for Kate's upcoming tour dates (She plays NYC's Terminal 5 on November 9th), and here to listen to her album on iTunes.